Today’s recipes video are for the budget-arians out there. Here are THREE budget-friendly vegan meals that approximately cost less than $1.50 USD PER SERVING! Check out the video below and scroll down for the ingredients!
You guys probably know by now that I am a fan of budget-friendly vegan meal ideas so I decided to create a video that focuses less on the calorie count and more on the cost! A lot of people believe in the myth that plant-based food is more expensive and that definitely does not have to be the case! In fact, I’ve argued for years that eating plant-based can actually be significantly cheaper. I hope these recipes help prove that to be true!
Here are THREE easy vegan recipes that cost approximately less than $1.50 USD per serving. I know, sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? But here’s a quick tip: focus on simple whole plant based foods, rather than vegan luxury items like fake meats or cheeses – this will save you so much money, I promise!
If you like preparing meals in advance, the Cheap Lazy Burrito is for you. This make-ahead burrito consists of brown rice and black beans, making it very filling. Plus, you can wrap these with aluminum foil and store it in your freezer. This way, you can just reheat it whenever you like!
For the second recipe, I bring you the Poor Man’s Chowder (vegan chowder, of course!)! Did you know that word “‘chowder” originated from the Latin word “calderia” which later turned out to mean a cooking pot? Yes, I had to google that – haha! Traditionally, a chowder recipe would have beef stew or seafood in it. Of course, we had to take those out and in its place I used corn, potatoes, chickpeas for protein and mushrooms for that additional savoury taste!
Last but not least is a dish that I would like to think is a full-on Cheap Lazy Vegan experience (LOL!). It’s Stir-Fried Ramen with Tofu & Broccoli (yum!). It’s a great way to upgrade your ramen game by just a tiny bit. I guarantee you, it’s worth the upgrade, my friends!
And as always, don’t forget to watch the video above for the recipes and scroll down for the ingredients!
* Original prices are in CAD, but converted to USD, the cost of each SERVING is approximately less than $1.50.
Budget-Friendly Vegan Recipes
Cheap Lazy Burrito (freezer-friendly!)
Approximate cost PER SERVING: $1.41 CAD or $1.08 USD
Ingredients (4 burritos):
- ½ onion, sliced thinly
- 1 bell pepper, sliced thinly
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tbsp oil
- 2 cups cooked brown or white rice
- 1 can black beans, drained & rinsed
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ¼ cup salsa
- 4 tortilla wraps
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Slice bell pepper and onion into thin pieces. Place in a heated wok, add some salt, and cook until softened (you can cook with or without oil – I cooked with just splashes of water). Set aside.
- In the same wok, add oil and throw in the brown rice and black beans. Mix well.
- Add in the spices — onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder and paprika.
- Throw in salsa, and salt & pepper to taste. Mix well.
- On a tortilla wrap, add in the onion and pepper mixture along with the rice & bean mixture. (NOTE: If you’re eating this right away, you can add more salsa before wrapping. For refrigerating or freezing, wrap in aluminum foil and do not add the salsa yet as it can get soggy.)
- Enjoy right away or freeze to enjoy later!
- Reheating instructions if frozen: take off aluminum foil and place on a microwave safe plate. Microwave on high for around 2 minutes on one side, flip over and microwave for another 1-2 minutes, until heated through. I like to enjoy with a small side of salsa for additional flavour!
Poor Man’s Chowder
Approximate cost PER SERVING: $1.88 CAD or $1.45 USD
Ingredients (around 4 servings):
- ½ onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 1 large potato, peeled and chopped into small pieces (around 2-5 cups)
- 2 cups mushrooms, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- 1 tbsp minced garlic (around 2-3 cloves)
- 1 tsp dry thyme
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 cups non-dairy milk
- 2 cups water
- Veggie bouillon cube
- 1 can of corn
- 1 can chickpeas
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Chop onion, carrots, potato, and mushrooms.
- Heat ½ tbsp oil in a pot and throw in the mushrooms. Add garlic salt and saute until nicely browned. Set aside.
- In the same pot, add in another ½ tbsp of oil and throw in the onion and carrots, along with thyme and minced garlic.
- After a couple of minutes, add in flour, non-dairy milk, water, potatoes, and the veggie bouillon cube. Mix well and turn the heat to high to allow the mixture to boil.
- Add in corn and chickpeas and allow to cook for 20 minutes or until potatoes are soft.
- Add in the cooked mushrooms, along with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve and enjoy!
Stir-Fried Ramen with Tofu & Broccoli
Approximate cost PER SERVING: $1.49 CAD or $1.15 USD
Ingredients:
- 1 serving vegan-friendly ramen (I used Mr Noodles Vegetable Flavour – this was super cheap!)
- ½ packet of the ramen seasoning
- 1 cup chopped broccoli
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp water
- 1 tsp oil
- 2 stalks green onion
- 1 tsp minced garlic (around 2-3 cloves)
- ⅓ block soft or medium-firm tofu
- Sriracha for topping (optional)
Instructions:
- Chop the broccoli.
- Boil broccoli and ramen noodles together. (Cook the noodles for 1 minute less than recommended time.)
- In a small mixing bowl, mix together half the ramen seasoning, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and water. Set aside.
- Once the broccoli and noodles are cooked, drain and set aside.
- Heat oil in a pan and add chopped green onions and minced garlic.
- Add crumbled up tofu and cook for a little bit before adding in the noodles, broccoli, and the sauce. Mix well until everything is evenly coated with the sauce.
- Drizzle some sriracha on the noodles and mix (optional — only if you like spice!).
- Plate stir fried noodles and top with more green onions. Enjoy!
After watching this video On YouTube, I knew I wanted to make the burritos. I made them burrito bowls as I only had small wraps. The rice was so delicious. My meat eating husband loved it and took the leftovers for lunch. It’s great finding recipes he enjoys that don’t contain meat. Thanks Rose.